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The former Republican opponent to Obama’s 2008 campaign said these comments after Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 crashed into Ukraine, causing the deaths of nearly 300 people. But while rumors surface that Russian separatists were responsible for shooting down the commercial jet, McCain is taking aim at the president.

“I don’t understand this president,” McCain said Thursday on Fox News’ “Hannity.” “The crisis on the border and he did the fundraisers, the fundraisers in New York while there are major major conflicts, not to mention the loss of American lives reported … I do not understand it.”

He added, “This is what we used to call in the military AWOL.”

McCain suggested that if reports prove that Russia was behind the attacks, the United States should “impose the harshest possible sanctions on Vladimir Putin and Russia.”

Host Sean Hannity followed up McCain’s opinions on the president by asking for his reaction to a quote from White House press secretary Josh Earnest. When Fox News’ Ed Henry asked Earnest whether Obama is a “bystander” president, Earnest said, “There have been a number of situations in which you’ve seen this administration intervene in a meaningful way that has … substantially improved the … tranquility of the global community.”

“Can you name one place in the global community where it’s tranquility?” Hannity asked.